WO2003073344A2

WO2003073344A2 - Analytics delivery platform

Info

Publication number: WO2003073344A2
Application number: PCT/US2003/005097
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sankaran Suresh; Spencer Lord; Niels Godfredsen; Oliver Tse; Yusuf Bashir; Vikram Tyarla
Original assignee: Informatica Corporation
Priority date: 2002-02-22
Filing date: 2003-02-20
Publication date: 2003-09-04
Also published as: AU2003216335A1; WO2003073344A3; AU2003216335A8; EP1479014A2; CA2476839A1

Abstract

An analytics delivery platform for providing a user interface, dynamic device support, and seamless multi-modal navigation for any number of devices. The dynamic device support is capable of efficiently supporting analysis of content on a plurality of devices. The multi-modal navigation provides users with the ability to analyze content on one device and then seamlessly switch to analyzing the same content on a second device. All the while the user interface is replicated across the various devices, in accordance with the characteristics of the particular device.

Description

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PCT/US03/05097

ANALYTICS DELIVERY PLATFORM

FIELD The present disclosure relates to an analytics delivery platform, and more particularly to creating and viewing content on a wide array of devices and seamlessly transitioning from viewing content on one device to viewing the same content on a second device.

BACKGROUND Enterprises are collecting vast amounts of data about all facets of their operation. The raw data often exists in an operational database where it is stored in rows and columns of numbers and codes. These enterprises need a means for making meaningful sense of this large amount of data. Analytics delivery platforms are designed to facilitate the interpreting, analyzing, compiling, and understanding of such data.

The analytics delivery platform allows the user to create various reports. For example, users can create reports to identify their best performing product, store, product representative, or the like. The reports enable the user to make better decisions. Analytics delivery platforms of the prior art developed based on the traditional client-server paradigm. Users now also desire to receive web- enabled reports. Therefore vendors have bolted web-functionality onto their products. Web-functionality constitutes the content creator creating the same content in a web report format. Likewise, users now desire wireless access to reports. Thus vendors have also bolted wireless-functionality onto their products. The bolt-on architecture of current analytics delivery platforms requires content to be generated specifically for each format. Each format of a particular content is stored by the analytics delivery platform. The storage of separate formats is necessary because user device interfaces differ significantly from device to device.

Therefore, content created in one format cannot be used by a device requiring the content in a different format. The content creator must create a separate report of each particular content in the format utilized by each different device. Furthermore, when a new device is added to the system, the content creator must create a separate report of each particular content in the format utilized by the new device.

In the prior art, the server stores reports in multiple formats, one format for each device. The content creator specifies the format of the report. Therefore, the report in the stored format is only effectively accessible to a particular device.

As information is more widely distributed in an organization, more and more people need access to the data. Most users' primary responsibilities are managing some aspect of the enterprise. Hence the users are managers and executives, not tech-sawy report creators. These additional users prefer easier tools to use. The tools of an analytics delivery- platform preferably create reports easily, or allow the user to view reports created by others easily. It is also preferable that the methodology and terminology of the tools be easier to use, and follow the business terminology that the user understands. A desirable feature from the user's perspective is to be able to select from any number of devices to analyze the data on. Another desirable feature is the ability to transition from one device to another seamlessly, so that the content displayed on the second device corresponds to the content which was displayed on the device that the user was previously using.

Thus, what is required is a solution for effectively analyzing content on any number of devices. Furthermore, what is also required is a solution for seamlessly switching the analysis of content from one device to another device.

SUMMARY

The analytics delivery platform of the here described _> includes an intuitive user interface, the ability to view content on any number of different devices, and the ability to seamlessly transfer from one device to another while analyzing content.

The present disclosure provides a solution for creating and viewing content very easily. The user interface provides the user with a summary of the user's organization or department. The user interface provides the user with various user defined alerts, indicators, shortcuts to reports, shared documents, and launching functions. The user interface is replicated across any number of data and voice devices in a configuration best suited for use on the particular device a user is utilizing.

The present disclosure also provides a solution for viewing reports on any number of devices. The dynamic device support of the present invention stores content in a device neutral format. The content can then be reformatted according to the characteristics of the device and the browser utilized by the device. Hence the content is saved separately from the presentation format. This allows content to be created once on any device, and then viewed on any other device without any additional changes needing to be made.

Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a solution to seamlessly transition from viewing a report on one interface medium, to viewing the same location in the report on a second interface medium. The multi- modal navigation system of the present invention utilizes the device neutral format of content for switching to a new device, with the system remembering the state at which analysis was at in the first device and reformatting the content in accordance with the device characteristics and browser utilized by the new device.

Therefore, whether the content being viewed is a report, dashboard, alert, indicator, email, task or calendar item, multi-modal navigation provides the ability to view analytical content on one device and then continue the viewing session on another device, with the system remembering the point in the content at which the switch from one device to the other occurred.

This is possible through the highly integrated, server-centric architecture, which provides data to all devices. The build-once view- anywhere concept of maintaining content separate from the presentation format allows for dynamic device support. The ability to keep content separate from the presentation format also allows users to seamlessly switch between mobile interfaces without losing their place in the content.

To summarize, the writing discloses an analytics delivery platform for providing a user interface, dynamic device support, and seamless multi-modal navigation for any number of devices. The dynamic device support is capable of efficiently supporting analysis of content on a plurality of devices. The multi-modal . navigation provides users with the ability to analyze content on one device and then seamlessly switch to analyzing the same content on a second device. All the while the user interface is replicated across the various devices, in accordance with the characteristics of the particular device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

Figure 1 shows a diagram of an electronic analytics delivery platform in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a diagram of an analytics delivery platform in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a diagram of a possible embodiment of a analytics content engine in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a diagram of a possible embodiment of a user interface in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a possible user login in accordance with the present invention. Figure 6 shows a possible user content request in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 7 shows a possible user launch function in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 shows a possible system alert function in accordance with the present invention.

5097

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well- known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, a diagram of an analytics delivery platform in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. As depicted in Figure 1, the analytics delivery platform includes a combination of a data store and data analytic management system 10 communicatively coupled to an analytics server 20. The combination of a data store and data analytic management system 10 may be a data warehouse, data mart, operation database, relational database, or the like database, and any combination thereof.

The analytics server 20 is also communicatively coupled to a plurality of user devices 40, 45, 50, 60. The user devices may include web devices 40, hand held personal computer (PDA) devices 45, wireless devices 50, voice devices 60, computers, terminals, monitors, WEB-TV, printers, facsimile machines, wired phones, wireless phones, cordless phones, analog cell phones, digital phones, PCS phones, internet and email capable phones, WAP-enabled phones, satelite phones, video phones, email, and other like devices. It is also contemplated that user devices may include virtual devices, such as instant messaging functions.

In the case of the voice devices 70, the analytics server 20 is communicatively connected to the voice device via a voice server 30. The voice server 30 provides voice-to-text and text-to-voice conversion between the analytics server 20 and the voice device 70, via a conventional wired or wireless telephone system.

The analytics server 20 receives a request for content from a requesting device (say a PDA device 50). The analytics server 20 translates the request into instructions for manipulation of the data store by the data analytic management system 10. The data analytic management system, upon manipulation of the data store, returns a result set to the analytics server 20. The analytics server 20 stores the result set in a "device agnostic" report; that is, the result set is stored in a manner that is independent of the downstream (end-user) device. The analytics server 20 has the ability to determine the characteristics of the user device, and the browser the device is utilizing from the communication protocol, such as hypertext transfer protocol (http), that the device uses. This enables the analytics server 20 to reformat the device agnostic report in a format that is optimal for display on the particular device. The optimally formatted report is then output to the requesting device (e.g. the PDA device 50).

Figure 2 shows an analytics delivery platform in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An analytics server 110 includes a analytics content engine 120, a launch and alert engine 130, and a plurality of plug-ins 140, 150, 160. The analytics content engine 120 is communicatively coupled to a data store and data analytic management system 100.

Each plug-in 140, 150, 160 provides a launcher and a viewer. The viewer of each plug-in 140, 150, 160 is communicatively coupled to the analytics content engine 120 and the launch and alert engine 120. The launcher of each plug-in 140, 150, 160 is communicatively coupled to the launch and alert engine 130. The viewer of each plug-in 140, 150, 160 is also communicatively coupled to a user device 170, 180, 190. The plug-in constitutes a one-to-one relationship between it and the device it supports. The plug-in aspect of the architecture allows for scalability. As new devices come along, a new plug-in is built to support the capabilities, limitations and nuances of the new device. The plug-in resides in the analytics server 110. In accordance with the present invention, each new viewer can be easily created because the result set is in a standard format with a standard interface. The result set is sent to each viewer in a device agnostic format, which represents the standard format that the data is received in by each viewer.

The viewer of the plug-in 140, 150, 160 receives a request for content from the associated user device 170, 180, 190. From the request the viewer is able to determine the identity of the device, its characteristics, and the browser utilized by the device. The viewer passes the request for content to the analytics content engine 120. The analytics content engine 120 is capable of controlling the manipulation of the data store by the data analytic management system 100, in accordance with the request. The analytics content engine 120 receives back a result set. The analytics content engine 120 stores the results set in a device agnostic report. The analytics content engine also passes the device agnostic report to the requesting viewer 140, 150, 160.

The viewer 140, 150, 160 uses the information about the identity of the device, its characteristics, and browser utilized by the device to reformat the device agnostic report in accordance with the device's capabilities, limitations, and nuances. ' Figure 3 shows a analytics content engine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The analytics content engine includes a translator 210, a formatter 240, and a storage capacity 260. The analytics content engine receives a report request from a viewer 220. The translator 210 translates the request received from the viewer into an instruction set for manipulating a data store. The translator outputs the instruction set to a data analytic management system 200. The data analytic management system returns a result set 230 to the formatter. The formatter 240, formats the result set into a device agnostic report. The device agnostic report is maintained in the storage capacity 260 of the analytics content engine. Furthermore, the formatter 240 outputs the device agnostic formatted report to the requesting viewer 250.

The analytics device platform, according to any of the embodiments of the present invention, also provides a user interface to each device. The user interface may be either a graphical user interface for data capable devices, or an audio user interface for voice capable devices. Figure 4, is an embodiment of a user interface in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The graphical user interface contains alerts 300, indicators 310, shortcuts to reports 320, shortcuts to shared documents 330, and launching function 340.

In one embodiments the alerts, indicators, reports, shared documents, and launching functions may constitute a group of alert icons, a group of reports icons, a group of report shortcut icons, a group of shared document icons, and a group of launcher function icons, respectively. All of the icons for each group are capable of being configured by the user, and constitute a user-defined dashboard or cockpit.

Figure 5 illustrates a possible process flow that an analytics delivery platform, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is capable of performing. A user login is shown in Figure 5. In step 400, a user logs into the analytics delivery platform. An analytics server determines the device and browser configuration that the user is utilizing, from the device's communication protocol (step 410). The communication protocol may be a standard protocol such as http. The analytics server then initiates a session between the device and a corresponding plug-in (step 420). The plug-in implements a viewer and a launcher configured according to the device characteristics and the device's browser, or browser like functionality. The viewer stores the device and browser configuration for further use. The viewer passes a user interface to the device (step 430). The user interface is configured for the device, in accordance with the device's characteristics and browser configuration, and is passed to the device (step 440).

The login provides the analytics delivery platform with the ability to personalize the user interface to the user. Furthermore, the login can also be used to define permissions for viewing content.

Figure 6 illustrates a second possible process flow that an analytics delivery platform, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is capable of performing. A request for content by a user device is shown in Figure 6. The request for content illustrates one possible advantage of the build-once view-anywhere feature of the present invention.

In step 500, a user enters a request for content via a device. A viewer passes the content request to a analytics content engine (step 510). The analytics content engine translates the request for content into structured query language (SQL) instructions, or a like instruction set, for manipulating a data store (step 520). The analytics content engine passes the SQL instructions to the data store (step 530). The data store manipulates a plurality of data according to the SQL instructions, and returns a result set back to the analytics content engine (step 540). The analytics content engine stores the result set in a device agnostic format (step 550). The analytics content engine also passes the device agnostic format to the viewer (step 560). The viewer reformats the device agnostic format (step 570). The reformatting is performed in accordance with the device characteristic and browser configuration of the device. The reformatted result set is thus appropriate for viewing on the device. The viewer passes the reformatted result set to the device (step 580).

Figure 7 illustrates a third possible process flow that an analytics delivery platform, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, is capable of performing. A user-initiated launch is shown in Figure 7. The user initiated launch represent one possible form of seamless handoff between user devices. The user initiated launch also illustrates another possible advantage of the build-once view-anywhere feature of the present invention. In step 660, a user enters a launch request and specifies a requested destination device. A viewer, associated with the originating device, creates a resource locator containing for example the identity of the requested destination device, the identity of a content currently being analyzed, and the location of the analysis within the content (step 610). The viewer passes the launch request along with the resource locator to a launch and alert engine (step 620). The launch and alert engine activates a launcher associated with the requested destination device (step 630). The launch and alert engine passes the resource locator to the launcher associate with the requested destination device (step 640). The launcher activates a viewer, associated with the requested destination device (step 650). The launcher passes information about the content and location of analysis within the content to the viewer, associated with the destination device (step 660). The viewer, associated with the destination device, retrieves the content from a analytics content engine and reformats the content in accordance with the device characteristics and browser configuration of the requested destination device (step 670). The viewer, associated with the destination device, then passes the reformatted content to the destination device (step 680).

Figure 8 illustrates a fourth-possible process flow that an analytics delivery platform, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, is capable of performing. A system alert is shown in Figure 8. The system alert illustrates yet another possible advantage of the build-once view-anywhere feature of the present invention. In step 700, a launch and alert engine initiates a launch function. The launch and alert engine passes a resource locator to a launcher associated with a desired destination device (step 710). The launcher, associated with a desired destination device, activates a viewer associated with the desired destination device (step 720). The launcher, associated with a desired destination device, passes information about the content and location of analysis within the content to the viewer, associated with the desired destination device (step 730). The viewer, associated with the destination device, retrieves the content from a analytics content engine and reformats the content in accordance with the device characteristics and browser configuration of the requested destination device (step 740). The view, associated with the requested destination device, then passes the reformatted content to the destination device (step 750).

User Interface

An analytics delivery platform, according to an embodiment of the present invention, provides a user device with a user interface. The user interface may be graphic or audio, depending upon the characteristics of the user device.

The user interface is also referred to as a dashboard or cockpit herein. The dashboard provides the user with alerts, indicators, shortcuts to commonly used reports, and shared documents. The dashboard also provides the user with the ability to create reports, and to launch from one device to another. An alert on the dashboard is a visual indicator that the user can set. The user sets a threshold value for monitoring a key bit of data. For example, the user can set a threshold value for sales of a particular item. The alert will go off if the sales for that particular item fall below the threshold quantity. The user in this example needs to know if a top performing product's sales falls off. However, they do not want to have to constantly monitor the sales number for each product of interest. Instead the user just needs to know as soon as such an event occurs. The user can then check his or her reports for more details, once the threshold is reached and an alert is triggered.

An indicator on the dashboard represents a business measure for monitoring key data. For example, indicators may be key performance indicators such as: top ten product sales figures, profitability of a store, or the like. Such indicators may be aggregate sales, average profit on a daily basis, or the like. The indicators allow the user to monitor the change in the data of interest.

A shortcut to a report on the dashboard allows the user to quickly access a commonly used report. A shortcut-to-shared document feature allows the user to access another type of content such as Word documents, Excel documents, or the like.

Selecting an alert, indicator, shortcut to report, or shortcut-to-shared document, allows the used to drill down a level to the underlying report or other document. Thus, the dashboard provides the user with an intuitive view of their job responsibilities. The dashboard provides easy access to data the user needs for making decisions. The dashboard also provides a convenient way for the user to check such things at various times throughout his or her day.

Dynamic Device Support

Dynamic device support provides the ability for users to simply create a report, indicator, alert or analytic dashboard once and then view that content on any web, wireless or voice recognition device without any additional changes needing to be made.

The challenge in supporting a wide variety of devices is that the interface differs significantly from device to device. The interface for each device can be defined by the characteristics of the device and the browser utilized by the device. The characteristics of a device (for example form factor, screen real- estate available, support for color, resolution, image size, bandwidth and level of interactivity possible) varies for each device type and even each model of a device type. Likewise the interface of voice recognition devices also differs.

Often when content is created, users are unaware of the differing mobile technologies available and their specific nuances. Using an analytic delivery platform of the present invention, content creators do not need to worry how the data will be accessed and what format is required by the method of access. Content creators can just concern themselves with creating superior content. With the analytics delivery platform users do not have to even know or be aware of the fact that others may access the analytic content they are creating from data devices and voice recognition devices. Once analytic content is created it is stored in a device agnostic format. Through an analytics delivery platform of the present invention, when users request a pre-created content from a device, the analytics server determines what is being asked for and which device it is being requested on. The content is then reformatted according to the characteristics of the device and the browser utilized by the device. The reformatted content can then effectively be analyzed on the particular device.

In other words, the analytics delivery platform of the present invention separates the content from the way the content is presented. Such architecture holds the content in a neutral format and serves it up in a particular device format depending upon the characteristics of the requesting device and the browser being utilized by the device.

For example, a PDA device has a touch screen, stylus, possibly even navigation keys and alphanumeric keys. The screen on the PDA has a certain physical dimension. The screen has a certain image size, resolution, and may even support color. Furthermore, the PDA has a certain bandwidth and discrete amount of memory for receiving and storing data. The viewer of the related plug-in takes account of these features, limitations, and nuances, and is able to format the content for optimal presentation on the PDA device.

On the other hand, a cell phone primarily provides a voice link. It may at best provide some ability to enter alphanumeric characters and have a small screen. Therefore, the viewer of the related plug-in will make use of the voice server to change the data content into audio content, and to change the audio navigation instructions received from the user into appropriate text type instructions. Furthermore, the plug-in supporting the cell phone will provide the discrete elements of the content in serial form that can be best heard and comprehended by the user.

Thus the analytics delivery platform, of the present invention, provides for dynamic device support. Content can be created once and served up to any number of devices for optimal presentation on the particular device.

Multi-modal Navigation

Multi-modal navigation provides the user with the ability to transition from analyzing content on one device to analyzing the same content on a second device. The challenge in transitioning between a wide variety of devices is that the interface differs significantly from device to device, and that the content being analyzed must be maintained when switched between devices.

The analytics delivery platform, of the present invention, maintains content in a device neutral format, which can be presented effectively on any number of devices. Upon a request the analytics delivery platform serves the device neutral format up to another device to provide for seamless transition between different devices. In other words, the analytics delivery platform of the present invention separates the content from the way the content is presented. Such architecture holds the content in a neutral format and serves it up in a particular device format depending upon a request to change to another device. Thus the present invention allows the user to analyze content on different devices as circumstances change.

For example, a user may be analyzing a report on his or her PDA. The user is navigating the report by tapping away using the PDA's stylus. The user then gets in his or her car to drive to a meeting. The user wants to continue analyzing the report. However, driving requires the use of their hands and eyes. Therefore, the PDA device is no longer a suitable device while driving.

The user needs a means for seamlessly switching from analyzing the report on his PDA to analyzing the same report on his phone. The use of a phone provides him with the ability to use voice recognition to navigate the report. Because speech is not used to drive, this method of analysis should not unduly interfere with his ability to drive.

The user can select the launching function on the dashboard displayed on his PDA, and specify his or her cell phone number. A "resource locator" (e.g. a tag) is used to indicate where the use is in the report (e.g. the page in the report that is being viewed, or perhaps the particular entry being viewed, bearing in mind that the report is in an electronic format). In one embodiment, this is accomplished through the launchers and viewers of Figure 2. When the user selects the launching function, the viewer marks the point (using a resource locator) in the report that is being displayed on the user's device. The resource locator is forwarded to the launch and alert engine. The launch and alert engine communicates the resource locator to the device the user is moving to. The destination launcher can thus access the device-agnostic database (report) at the point where the user left off. The analytics deliver platform calls the supplied phone number, and reformats the content into a report and means of navigation suitable for analysis via speech recognition over the cell phone. Hence the user is able to continue analyzing the report on a cell phone, from where he or she left off when they were using the PDA. Note that the user can also specify the phone number of another person with whom the report can be shared. The other user can then view an item of interest that has been, in effect bookmarked by the first user using the resource locator.

Users also have the ability to forward a report to an email recipient. For example, the user can invoke the "Email Forwarding" feature. The analytics server converts the full web-version of the report to a convenient format (such as PDF, HTML, or Microsoft Word/Excel) and attaches it to an email message automatically. All that is required from the user is to specify which report they would like forwarded and the person they would like to send it to. The analytics server then creates the message, attaches the report and sends the message to the recipient. In another example, a user may be viewing a report on a web-enabled phone, and may then decide to forward it to a colleague. Ideally the message should be annotated with a personalized message from the sender, highlighting why the report is being sent and or what they advise the recipient to do once received.

In one embodiment, this can be accomplished with the following steps: open up a mobile browser on a wireless device; locate and view the analytic content of interest; select "Launch to Voice" feature; when prompted, enter a phone number to call; hang up and wait; the system calls the number entered; the user is prompted for a secure, personal account number (PAN) and personal identification number (PIN); the system then informs the user of the report they were looking at and asks what to do next; the user initiates the "email-forwarding" feature by saying "forward report"; the system asks the user to record a message; the system then asks the user to find a contact to send the message to. Once the recipient's email address is located the email is sent with the report attached as a file and the recorded voice message attached as a compressed voice (audio) file.

The analytics server retrieves the content, formats the content, and emails automatically. The mobile user is not required to download the document to the device, nor do they need to manually attach it to an email message.

Due to the mobile nature of the wireless and voice devices user, remote printing is a highly useful feature that allows users to print a web version of the report at any fax machine no matter where they may be located. Whether they are viewing a report on their wireless device or listening to it through the voice interface, they have the ability to launch the remote print feature.

For example, any wireless or voice user can printout a full, web- version of a report to any fax machine by simply indicating the report and destination fax number. When initiated the user's mobile device sends a secure request to the analytics server with the fax number entered by the user. The analytics server then obtains the full web-version of the same report, so that any charts or formatting enhancements normally not viewable on a mobile device are carried through. The analytics server generates a file (e.g. an Adobe PDF file) of this analytic content. The analytics server then faxes the file to the specified recipient.

The analytics server also generates a coversheet on the fly and populates the "To" and "From" fields dynamically based upon the senders profile information and the recipients' details in their address book, such as Microsoft Outlook. The analytics server attaches the coversheet to the report and ensures that the fax is sent through successfully.

The analytics server retrieves the content, formats the content, and faxes automatically. The mobile user is not required to download the document to the device, nor do they need to manually attach it to a coversheet message. In addition, users can also remote print other document formats such as Microsoft ΛVord or Excel documents, Adobe PDF files, and text files. Such content can be either reports or unstructured data. The mobile user can easily remote print any of these formatted documents by simply specifying a fax machine number.

Thus the analytics delivery platform, of the present invention, provides for seamless navigation of content regardless of the device being used. The user can analyze content on one device and seamlessly transition to analyzing the same content on another device, as needs change.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the language herein, the equivalents of that language and obvious modifications of what is here described.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An analytics delivery platform, comprising: a means for providing a user interface; a means for providing dynamic device support; and a means for providing multi-modal navigation.

2. The means for providing a user interface according to claim 1, further comprising a means for replicating the user interface across any number of devices.

3. The means for providing dynamic device support according to claim 1, further comprising: a means for obtaining a content; a means for maintaining the content in a device agnostic format; a means for reformatting the device agnostic formatted content for presentation on a requesting device; and a means for serving the reformatted content up to the requesting device.

4. The means for providing mult-nodal navigation according to claim 1, further comprising: a means for maintaining content in a device agnostic format; T U 03/05097

a means for reformatting the device agnostic format into a first format for presentation on a first device; a means for serving up the first format to the first device; a means for receiving a request to transition from the first device to a

I second device; a means for reformatting the device agnostic format into a second format for presentation on the second device; and a means for serving up the second format to the second device.

5. A method of providing dynamic device support for a plurality of devices, comprising: maintaining a content in a device agnostic format; reformatting the content for presentation on a requesting device; and serving the reformatted content up to the requesting device.

6. The method of providing dynamic device support for a plurality of devices according to claim 5, further comprising: receiving a request for the content from the requesting device; and receiving the requested content from a data store.

7. The method of providing dynamic device support for a plurality of devices according to claim 6, further comprising: translating the request for the content into an instruction set for manipulating the data in the data store; and providing the instruction set to the data analytic management system, wherein the data in the data store is manipulated according to the instruction set so as to return the requested content.

8. The method of providing dynamic device support for a plurality of devices according to claim 7, wherein the instruction set is structured query language (SQL) instructions.

9. The method of providing dynamic device support for a plurality of devices according to claim 5, wherein reformatting the content for presentation on the requesting device, comprises: determining a characteristic of the requesting device; and reformatting the content according to the characteristic of the requesting device.

10. A method for providing dynamic device support, comprising: storing a result set in a device agnostic formatted report; determining a characteristic of a device; reformatting the device agnostic formatted report in accordance with the characteristic of the device; and providing the reformatted report to the device for display.

11. The method for providing dynamic device support according to claim 10, further comprising: receiving a request for the report; and receiving the result set from a data store.

12. The method for providing dynamic device support according to claim 11, further comprising: translating the request for the report into an instruction set for manipulating the data store; and providing the instruction set to a data analytic management system, wherein the data analytic management system returns the result set upon manipulation of the data store in accordance with the instruction set.

13. The method for providing dynamic device support according to claim 12, wherein the instruction set is structured query language (SQL) instructions.

14. An analytics delivery platform, for providing dynamic device support, comprising: a means for obtaining a content; a means for maintaining the content in a device agnostic format; a means for reformatting the device agnostic formatted content for presentation on a requesting device; and a means for serving the reformatted content up to the requesting device.

15. The analytics delivery platform of claim 14, further comprising a means for providing a user interface.

16. The user interface according to claim 15, wherein the user interface is replicated across any number of devices.

17. The analytics delivery platform, for providing dynamic device support according to claim 14, further comprising a means for providing an alert, wherein the content is provided when a specified criterion is satisfied.

18. The analytics delivery platform, for providing dynamic device support according to claim 17, wherein the specified criterion is a threshold value.

19. The analytics delivery platform, for providing dynamic device support according to claim 18, wherein the alert is performed automatically when the threshold value is satisfied.

20. The analytics delivery platform, for providing dynamic device support according to claim 14, further comprising a means for providing an indicator, wherein the content is provided automatically.

21. A method of providing multi-modal navigation between a first device and a second device, comprising: maintaining a content in a device agnostic format; reformatting the content in the device agnostic format into a first format for presentation on the first device; serving the first format up to the first device; receiving a request to transfer to the second device; reformatting the content in the device agnostic format into a second format for presentation on the second device; and serving the second format up to the second device.

22. The method of providing multi-modal navigation between a first device and a second device according to claim 21, further comprising: creating a resource locator in response to the request to transfer to the second device; and accessing the content in the device agnostic format according to the resource locator.

I

23. The resource locator according to claim 22, wherein the resource locator indicates the point in the content that is being displayed on the first device.

24. The resource locator according to claim 22, wherein the resource locator indicates the desired second device.

25. The method of providing multi-modal navigation between a first device and a second device according to claim 21, further comprising: receiving information sufficient for establishing communication with the second device; ending communication with the first device; and initiating communication with the second device.

26. The method of providing multi-modal navigation between a first device and a second device according to claim 21, wherein the second device is adapted to print.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the second device is accessed using an email address.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the second device is accessed using a unique resource locator (URL).

29. A method for providing multi-modal navigation from a first device to a second device, comprising: creating a resource locator, upon a request to switch from the first device to the second device, wherein the resource locator indicates a content being displayed on the first device; passing the resource locator to launcher of the second device; retrieving a device agnostic format of the content specified in the resource locator; reformatting the device agnostic formatted content according to a characteristic of the second device; and displaying the reformatted content on the second device.

30. The method for providing multi-modal navigation from a first device to a second device according to claim 29, further comprising: receiving information sufficient for establishing communication with the second device; P T7US03/05097

ending communication with the first device; and initiating communication with the second device.

31. The method for providing multi-modal navigation from a first device to a second device according to claim 29, wherein the second device is adapted to print.

32. The method for providing multi -modal navigation from a first device to a second device according to claim 29, wherein the second device is accessed using an email address.

33. The method for providing multi-modal navigation from a first device to a second device according to claim 29, wherein the second device is accessed using a unique resource locator (URL).

34. An analytics delivery platform, for providing multi-modal navigation, comprising: a means for maintaining content in a device agnostic format; a means for reformatting the device agnostic format into a first format for presentation on a first device; a means for serving up the first format to the first device; a means for receiving a request to transition from the first device to a second device; a means for reformatting the device agnostic format into a second format for presentation on the second device; and a means for serving up the second format to the second device.

35. The analytics delivery platform according to claim 34, further comprising: a means for creating a resource locator from the first device in response to the request to transfer to the second device, the resource locator for indicating an instance of content, the instance of content to be served up to the second device; and a means for accessing the content in the device agnostic format according to the resource locator.

36. The analytics delivery platform of claim 34, further comprising a means for providing a user interface.

37. The user interface according to claim 36, wherein the user interface is replicated across any number of devices.